Getting to Know My International Contacts - Part 2

I have still not had any response from anyone that I have contacted through this assignment.  I am really disappointed but I realize that people are super busy.  Since I have not made contact I am continuing the alternate assignment of listening to podcasts and also browsing the Harvard University's "Global Children's Initiative" website.  Here's some insight from this week:

Podcasts:  I chose to listen to the podcast of Delfena Mitchell of Belize City.  She is the director of the Liberty Children's Home.  This is an orphanage for children between 0 - 5 years of age and is is designed specifically for those who have been abandoned, abused, or neglected.  She stated that Belize had the highest rate of child abuse cases in the Caribbean.  They do take older children if they have younger siblings that are placed in the orphanage.This orphanage also helps children who have disabilities or who are HIV positive.

She told the story of a 9-year old little boy who came to them with severe abuse issues.  He had not spoken a word for over a year.  In addition to receiving abuse he also witnessed his sister's abuse.  He came to the orphanage with his 6 siblings.  They could not place him in a traditional school setting because of his lack of communication so they homeschooled him.  After a few weeks in the home, he spoke to Ms. Mitchell during a horseback riding excursion.  He only spoke a few words but over the next few weeks he became more comfortable and talked more.  He spoke about his experiences with abuse and about the uncle he loved that had left his home.  He described having to hide under his bed to eat so the others would not take his food.  Ms. Mitchell stated that he loves spending time outdoors and can now attend school and communicate with the other children.

I wanted to learn more about this child and the Liberty Children's Home so I went to the website link.  Sadly, the link no longer works and I could not track it down through any other means.  If anyone knows how to find out about this program, please let me know.  I would love to find out more about the orphanage and if they are still in operation and if there is anyway I could help with some of their needs.

Harvard University:  I love this website!  It is full of information and links to initiatives dedicated to improving equity and excellence around the globe.  Take a look at what I found!

• Applying the Science of Early Childhood in Brazil - The project describes Nucleo Clencia Pela Infancia, which is a program dedicated to improving the lives of young children and their families in Brazil by utilizing the science of child health and development and connecting the information to better policies.  Well worth your time to investigate!

• National Forum on Early Childhood Policy and Programs - This forum was established in 2006 and it's main purpose is to help policy makers and other interested stake holders understand what and how investments should be made in early childhood programs and policies.  This forum interprets research and designs best practices and policies.  The meta-analytic database is especially interesting to read.

• Global Children's Initiative Fact Sheet - This fact sheet shares a wealth of information on the Center's 3 strategic goals:  to reframe public discourse about the early childhood period; to support innovative, multidisciplinary research and demonstration projects, and; to build leadership capacity in child development research and policy.  The fact sheet also describes issues surrounding mental health, crisis and conflict situations, and building leadership capacity in research and policy.  This is one of the most informative articles that I have read in this course.  

I hope that you will take advantage to the links below and learn more about the ways that equity and excellence are being pursued in the early childhood field.  We can all be a catalyst in this very important work!

Resources:

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/

http://worldforumfoundation.org.uk/

Sharing Web Resources

I am researching the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators.  I feel that everything on the site is particularly relevant to my current professional development because I am trying to realize my dream of teaching at the community college level and this website is devoted to working with those who teach early childhood educators.

One thing that I do not like about the website is that a lot of the information is geared towards working with early childhood educators who work in public schools and this leaves out a lot of early childhood educators who work outside the public school system.  I sent a question to one of the contact people to find out about why so much information is focused on public school educators but no one has responded.

One of the areas of the site highlights grants and awards that are available for early childhood educators.  Most of these grants are focused towards funding research projects that support high quality early childhood education and the link to a more positive future if early childhood is supported.  I think this is very much an indication of just how "hot" early childhood education has become.

I didn't really glean any other insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field.  I did however, find the Early Childhood Teacher Certification Toolkit on the site and it is awesome.  The toolkit has a lot of information on early childhood best practices, why early childhood educators need to  have specialized training, and how early childhood professionals need to talk to those outside of our field.  It is definitely worth your time to read this toolkit!


Resources:

National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators
http://www.naecte.org/
(Newsletter: http://www.naecte.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=29

Getting to Know My International Contacts

I have been very disappointed at the lack of response from international contacts.  I contacted over 20 people and only 1 person responded back....to say that she can't help me out.  In light of this I reverted to option 2 of our blog assignments.  I am visiting the World Forum Foundation and listening to podcasts of other early childhood professionals.  Interestingly enough, most of these podcasts are from people in the United States but they are very informative and I am enjoying the podcasts.

This week I listened to a podcast featuring Barbara Jones.  She founded the Pine Grove Center in Falmouth, Maine 25 years ago and it is a modified Montessori school.  I enjoyed learning about the different schools she worked in before opening Pine Grove Center and how she actually found and renovated the 1917 building where the center is located.  I identified with her greatly because, like me, she had dreamed of opening her school for many years before she actually found the site and turned her dream into reality.

I also visited the school's website (the web address is below) and I enjoyed reading about a typical day at the center, meeting the staff, and learning about their enrollment process.  I would love to travel to Maine and visit her center and learn more about a Montessori environment.  I have emailed the school and hope to learn more about their work with young children.  I will keep you updated!

Resources:

www.worldforumfoundation.org

www.pinegrovecenter.com

Sharing Web Resources

Hello All!

I selected the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (NAECTE).  Since I aspire to be an early childhood teacher educator some day I think this site will offer some valuable information.

A lot of the information on this website is for members only.  I checked to see how to become a member and since I am a student I can join for $45.  Although I am not going to join now, I may join in the future.

With that being said, I browsed the site for the free information and found several position statements written by the NAECTE.  One of them that piqued my interest was the position statement on early childhood certification for teachers of children 8 years old and younger in state funded pre-k programs.   In summary, this statement is asking that these educators be highly qualified by having BK certification or pre-school add on license, that the programs give priority in hiring to the teachers that hold this certification, and that the certification be obtained in teacher preparation programs that meet the standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). 

I agree wholeheartedly with this position statement.  I believe that the teachers that work with young children need the specialized education that is offered through high quality teacher preparation programs.  In my state, North Carolina, all NC Pre-K teachers are required to either hold a BK certification or pre-school add on license or be working towards that certification.  I am glad that this organization sees the value in teacher education and how it is closely related to high quality childcare.

What do YOU think?

References:

www.naecte.org/

Early Childhood Around the Globe

I am very excited about my new class, Issues and Trends in Early Childhood.  I am amazed at all of the information that is available about early childhood around the globe.  I can't wait to hear from other early childhood educators and learn about the issues and trends in their areas. 

I have contacted early childhood professionals in El Salvador, the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany and I hope to hear from some of them very soon.  I am excited about the potential learning opportunities that may occur through networking with these professionals around the world. 

In addition, I am researching the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators.  Since I aspire to be an early childhood teacher at the community college level upon completion of my studies, I thought this was the perfect fit.  So far I have read their mission statement (Our Purpose), read about their officers, and learned about their annual conferences.  I look forward to learning about all of the resources that they have available.

My Supports

I have so many supports in my life.  The three most important would have to be my family, my friends, and my faith.  Without these supports I would be so very lost!

My family supports me through the good times and the bad.  My husband is such a hard worker and always puts our family's needs before his own.  He works long hours and then after a hard day at work he comes home to tend our little farm and livestock.  He always has a project going to make our life a little better.

My children, although grown, are a huge support system.  They all live near me and we spend a lot of time together.  Every Sunday night we have what we call "Sunday Supper".  All of their families come to my house and we share a meal.  We all pitch in with the food and the cleaning up afterwards.  I look forward to this meal all week and it really rejuvenates me for Monday's busy obligations.  We not only share food but love and fellowship.

My mom, sisters, and brother are a huge support for me too.  We talk most everyday and my sisters are partners with me in my childcare center.  My family, although far from perfect, is a wonderful reminder of what is right in this crazy world we live in.

My friends, both at work and outside of work, are always there for me.  Whether it's lending a helping hand, letting me cry on their shoulder, or offering some much needed advice, I can always count on them at the drop of a hat.  I would not like to know what it would be like to go through my life without their love and support.

My faith is what keeps me sane when all else fails.  I look to the Lord for guidance, salvation, and grace, even when I don't deserve it.  When the sky is falling down on me, I only need to read my Bible,  listen to a favorite hymn, or look at one of His wonderful creations, to regain my perspective.  Without my faith, all else would be for naught.

When thinking about a challenge, I immediately though of losing my hearing because I currently have some issues with mild hearing loss.  One of my biggest fears is losing all of my hearing someday.  I would not be able to hear my husband's voice, my grandchildren say they love me, favorite hymns, or my son's melodious guitar.  I can't imagine not being able to hear and miss out on the give and take of conversations.  I would need to depend on those around me to help me learn how to communicate without hearing and I am sure that would be very difficult.  I pray that I never have to find out how it feels to lose one's hearing.

"My Connections to Play"

"Children's games are hardly games. Children are never more serious than when they play."

MONTAIGNE, Essays

"Play is our brain's favorite way of learning."

Diane Ackerman
Contemporary American author

"If you want to be creative, stay in part a child, with the creativity and invention that characterizes children before they are deformed by adult society."

Jean Piaget
Swiss philosopher

"Children need the freedom and time to play.
Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity."

Kay Redfield Jamison, American Professor of psychiatry1896–1980

I love to play!  I have always loved to play and I hope that I never lose my desire to play!  Essential play items for me include:  sand and water, something to make music with, some type of swing, and a friend or two!  

As a young child I spent many long hours involved in play.  My favorite thing to do was to be outside, wondering around our backyard and woods and finding new things to use in my play.  My parents always encouraged me to play, especially outside.  My siblings and I would spend our summer days riding bikes, tromping through the woods, and making forts and houses out of anything that we could stack together.  As I grew older and had the responsibility of babysitting my youngest siblings, I still reverted to play to get me through the day.  When I had to feed them lunch, we pretended we were at a restaurant and they ordered their food.  When it was time for their nap, we pretended we were camping and sleeping under the stars.  Bath time included many adventures in our "boat on the high seas".  

Play has always been an escape for me.  I still find it very easy to sneak off and play although my play props now are much different than when I was a child.  My adult play also often includes a grandchild or two.  I try to show my grandchildren the importance of playing, imagining, and creating.  At my house we don't get lost in mindless television and computers or gaming systems are not our focus.  We paint, plant flowers, bake a cake, run around in the rain, race matchbox cars, read a book, or countless other activities that actively engage their growing minds.  

I want my grandchildren and other children in my life to know the joys of catching fireflies, sledding backwards down a hill, and riding a horse.  I want them to understand that true joy comes not from all of today's gizmos and gadgets, but from simple things shared with those that you love.